Overhead gas-fired radiator and reflector



Ce/Zrhg like April 6, 1948.

W. ,G. CARTTER OVERHEAD GAS-FIRED RADIATOR AND REFLEcT oR Filed NOV. 21, 1942 A INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY.

GSheets-Shed 2 I R ML/AMCECAETTEE,

April 6, 1948. '-w. G. CAFIQTTER V OVERHEAD GAS-FIRED RADIATOR AND REFLECTOR F i id Nov. 21, 1942 a Sheets-Sheet s 71 24 4214 6. 61427752, L 'INVENTQR.

ATTORNEY.

scribed. It is within the scope of my invention to use a burner at each end, and a flue pipe in the center; or to use a central burner directing flame both ways, and use flue pipes at both ends.

The combustion chamber In is supported within the reflector element I2, in a manner hereinafter described and in the particular relationship il1ustrated.

The reflector element [2 comprises an upper section 20 and a lower section 2|. The upper section has four plane faces or panels 22, 23, 2c

and 25, angularly arranged in cross section as illustrated. Opposite sides are the same. .The' panel 23 is disposed at an angle of approximately 45 to the wall or face l5 of the combustion chamber, and the panel 22 is angularly depressed .radiated downwardly through the heat reflector section 2!, thus diminishing any tendency for the creation of a hot spot directly belowthe heater.

from the panel 23, approximately but not exactly paralleling the wall I5, and being at an angle of.

approximately 90 to the wall [3. The angle of intersection between the panels 22 and 23 may be located on a projection of the line representing the wall [3,-as illustrated in Figure '7, but is not necessarily so. x 1

While the heater illustrated is adapted to disperse; heat in both directions, the principle of my invention maybe employed for dispersing heat in one direction only by utilizing either half of the structure illustrated. a

T e'lower reflector section 2! is formed wit four plane races or panels 26, 21, 28 and 29, angularly arranged in cross section as illustrated, the panel 21 being approximately parallel to the upper pan 2-, 1 I

The upper and lower reflector sections are closed at one end by an end plate so, andat the other end by an end plate 36a i The combustion chamber In is supported on these end plates in any suitable manner. As shown in the drawings, the end plates are formed with openings 3| through which the combustion chamber extends, and flanges 32 turned out from the latter are attached to the outer sides of the end plates, At the flue end of the combustion chamber, the latter is closed by a cover 33. The burner end of combustion-chamber is open as illustrated, for example in Figure 3, to provide for the burner [L This burner may be mounted by means ora-bracket 34 welded or otherwise attached to the lower walls 13 and it of the combustion chamber.

The burner comprises a gas tube 35 controlled by a valve '36 and positioned to feed into a mixing chamber 31. The control valve is provided with a disc'or wheel 38, having pins 39 to which may be attached chains or cords 40 by which the valve may be operated from below. A pilot light 4| is provided, and supplied with a standard pilot safety 42, which will shut off the gas if the pilot goes out.

An auxiliary air inlet 45 is formed in the combustion chamber adjacent the pilot 4| to facilitate access to the pilot. This inlet will be normally closed when the heater is in operation.

Mounting brackets are Welded or otherwise attached to the upper surfaces'of the reflector element i 2 and are joined as indicated at 48 for suitable attachment to horizontal beams 49, the latter of which are normally suspended from the ceiling or across the room in a factory. Any other convenient or suitable means for suspending the In the use of my invention the valve 36 is opened by pulling on one of the chains or cords '48 and as thegas issues through the tube 35 it is ignited by the pilot 4|, and the gas burns in the combustion chamber. The products of combustion travel through the combustion chamber iii and are exhausted through the flue H. In

doing so the walls [3, M, I5 and I6 of the com-' bustion chamber are heated and the heat therefrom radiates outwardly. There is no flame visible and the products of combustion may be carried outsideiof the building by any suitable and conventional means. The heat distributed'is radiant heat projected from the four walls of the combustion chamber, some passingdirectly' into the area being serviced and some being reflected. It is to be noted that the combustion chamber is spaced from the reflector elements I2 and 2! even at the closest point on the vertical center 7 so that with the exception of a negligible amount of heat conducted from one element to the other at the end supports, the reflector elements receive only radiant heat which they in turn reflect outwardly and downwardly. The general result is illustrated schematically in Figure 6. Where an exceptionally large room is to be heated a battery of my heaters may be employed and spaced so that there is' a slight. over-lapping at the extremes of the heat radiation. f

Figure 7 indicates in more detail some 'of the lines of heat radiation and reflection. In a drawing of this .character the total effect cannot be illustrated, but representative lines are shown.

Thus the heat rays 1 may radiate outwardly from the wall l4 directly into the area to be heated. Likewise heat'rays s also radiate directly outwardly, as well as intermediate rays and some rays on both sides of the angle r-s. I-Ieat rays t radiating from the wall l4 strike the reflector 25 and are reflected downwardly as illustrated, the

combustion chamber wall l5 strike the reflector 25 and-are'direc ted downwardly. Other rays c from the wall i5 strike the reflector 24 and arefreflected downwardly but outwardly at a wider angle than therays u. It'will be obvious that there are innumerable combinations of radiation and reflection arising inthe operation of this heater, all controlled by the principles illustrated;

Inasmuch as the reflector-section 2| receives radiated heat only with a negligible exception at the ends where the parts'are supported, which radiated heat the reflector 2| disperses outwardly and downwardly; substantially no heat is lost by radiation upwardly from the 'refle'ctor 2l. For the same'reason substantiallylittle heat "is lost downwardly tion'2l. j

- There is an important critical relationship between the. cross'sectional 'form of the combusthrough the lower reflector sec tion chamber and the reflectorelement, as well: as the relativesizes and proportions of the same, asillustrated.

l? have found by actual demonstration and tests that from a point directlyund'erthe heater'toa distance of?!) or-30 feet outwardly therefrom depending upon the size and position of the heater and therefore its effective heatin area, the temperature in the strata below the heater varies but a few degrees at the most in different locations within that space, and that the variation is hardly perceptible to persons occupying various positions iii-that space. This is true irrespective of the room temperature outside the heating area of the heater, and as hereto fore mentionedthe temperature outside of this area may be disregarded. Inasmuch as the radiated heat warms the human body upon contacttherewith in a manner similar to that of the suns rays, such heat being infra-red rays, even cold drafts of air passing through the heated area are not highly objectionable.

The use of a combustion chamber with plane heat radiating walls is an important feature of the invention. A conventional burner or open gas flame not only presents a fire hazard but the heat thereof is not controllable for correct dispersion as provided for by my chamber of novel configuration. This chamber confines the flame and the products of combustion, and the walls thereof, being flat, radiate the heat in known directions and therefore make it possible to control not only the heat radiated directly into the room from the chamber, but also enable the provision of correct plane reflecting surfaces for advantageously utilizing 100% of the area of the chamber and accomplishinga wider and more effective dispersion of the heat therefrom.

My invention embraces not only the structure shown, and equivalents, but a novel method or art of heating from overhead. To my knowledge, I am the first toutilize overhead heat conducting plane walls heated from one side and discharging radiant heat from the opposite side into a room area. This is enhanced by the reflection from plane surfaces of upwardly travelling heat rays downwardly and outwardly into the space to be heated, the total result being an even dispersion of radiant heat throughout a horizontal s rata below and to one side o t heater.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom" within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures and methods.

I-Iaving described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An overhead gas heater comprising the combination of: a substantially closed combustion chamber formed of horizontally elongated plane walls, means adapted to direct flame into said chamber and means to carry ofl products of combustion from said chamber, whereby the walls are caused to project radiant heat, upper reflecting surfaces over said combustion chamber adapted to reflect downwardly and outwardly the principal heat rays which initially pass upwardly from said chamber, and lower reflecting surfaces under said combustion chamber adapted to intercept and reflect outwardly the prinplane walls, means adapted to direct flameinto said chamberat one end and means to carry off products of combustion from said chamber, whereby the walls are caused to project radiant heat, upper reflecting'surfaces over said com bustion chamber adapted to reflect downwardly and outwardly the principal heat rays which ini-, tially pass upwardly from said chamber, and lower plane reflecting surfaces under said combustion chamber adapted to intercept and reflect outwardly the principal heat rays which pass vertically downward from said chamber;

3'. An overhead gas heater comprising the combination of: a horizontally elongated combustion chamber formed of plane walls having a cross section in the form of a quadrilateral oi which two pairs of adjacent sides are equal, burner means adaptedto direct a flame into said chamber for heating the same, and a plane faced reflector co-extensi ve in length with the combustion chamber and spaced above the latter to reflect approximately allof the heatrays downwardly and outwardly which are initially projected from said combustion chamber at angle substantially above horizontal,

'4. An overhead 'gas heater comprising the combination of: a horizontally elongated" combustion chamber formed oi plane walls having a cross section in the form of a quadrilateral of; w ich two Pairs o ad acen sides. are equal n i onals dispQ d rticallr h rizontal y respectively, burner means adapted to, direct a flame into said chamber for heatin the same, and a plane faced reflector coae rtensive in length t the combustion c m e and snace lahove the latter, saidreflector having on one side a rage disposed at an acute angle to the upper comple mentary wallof the combustion chamber, and a similar face on the opposite side.

n er d gas heat ompr sin the co nv bination, of:- a orizontally el n a ed comp s tion chamber formed, of plane walls having a cross section in the form of a quadrilateral of; which two pai s at adia em sides a e qual and its diagonals disp sed verticall and hor z ntally espe tive bu ner means ada ted t0 di ect a flame into said chamber for heating the sa e, nd a plane faced reflector corerteeslve n len with the co ustion hamber and erased Y, the latter, said reflector avin a face disposed at an acute angle to tire complementary wall of the combustion chamber, and a second face joined to the first at an obtuse angle, the said reflector being similar the cm posite side.

6. An overhead gas heater comprising the com bination of: a horizontally elongated combustion chamber formed of plane walls havin a cross section in the form of a quadrilateral ditwo pairs of adjacent sides are equal and its diagonalsdisposed vertically and horizontally respectively, burner means adapted todireet a flame into said cham'ber for heating the same, and a plane faced reflector co-extensive in length with the combustion chamber and spaced above the latter, said reflector having on one side a face disposed at an acute angle to an upper wall of the combustion chamber and the outer edge of said face ending at the intersection of said side and the projection of a line representing the adjacent lower wall of the combustionchamber.

7. An overhead gas heater comprising the combination of: a horizontally elongated combustion chamber formed of plane walls and having a lateral cross section one side of which includes two walls the first of which-is inclined downwardly and outwardly and the second of which is inclined upwardlyand outwardly to intersect the first, burner means adapted to direct flame into the combustion chamber and a reflector panel structure having one panel extending upwardly and outwardly substantially above the first wall; and a second panel extending downwardly and outwardly substantially laterally of both walls. g

8. An overhead gas heater comprising the combination of: a horizontally elongated combustion chamber formed of plane walls having a lateral cross section in the form of a quadrilateral of which two pairs of adjacent sides are equal and the angle of intersection of adjoining upper and lower walls is approximately 90, means adapted to direct a flame into said combustion chamber at one end and means adapted to conduct away the products of combustion from said chamber whereby the walls of said chamber are heated, and a plane faced reflector co-extensive in length with said combustion chamber and spaced above the latter to reflect heat rays downwardly and outwardly which initially radiate upwardly toward said reflector.

9. An overhead gas heater comprising the combination of: a horizontally elongated combustion chamber formed of plane walls having a lateral cross section in the form of a quadrilateral of which two pairs of adjacent sides are equal and the angle of intersection of adjoining upper and lower walls is approximately 90, means adapted to direct a flame into said combustion chamber at one end and means adapted to conduct away the products of combustion from said chamber whereby'the: walls of said chamber are heated, and a: plane faced reflector cofe'xtensive in length with said combustion chamber and spaced above the latter to reflect heat rays downwardly and outwardly which initially radi- 7 ate upwardly toward said reflector, said reflector having on each side two plane surfaces, thefirst extending upwardly at an angle acute to the upper wall of the combustion chamben'and the other extending downwardly at an obtuse angle from the first.

10. An overhead gas heater comprising the eombination of: a horizontally elongated combustion chamber formed of plane walls having a lateral cross section in the form of a quadrilateral of which two pairsof adjacent sides are equal and the angle of intersection of adjoining upper and lower walls is approximate1y'90, means adapted to direct a flame into said combustion chamber at one end and means adapted to conduct away the .products of combustion from the other end whereby'the walls of said chamber are heated, and a plane faced reflector co-extensivein length with said combustion chamber and spaced above the latter to reflect heat rays downwardly and outwardly which initially radiate upwardly toward said reflector, said reflector having on each 8, side two plane sur fac es, the first extending up wardly at an angle acute tothe upper wall of the combustion chamber and terminating at a point where the projection of a line representing the lower wall of said chamber intersects said first plane surface, and the other said surface extending downwardly at an obtuse angle from theflrst and of a width sufflcient to intercept heat radiated from the combustion chamber in lines substantially above horizontal. V V v 11. An overhead gas heater comprising the combinationof: a horizontally elongated combustion chamber formed of plane walls having a lateral crosssection in the form of a quadrilateral of which two pairs of adjacent sides are equal and the angle of intersection of adjoining upper and. lower walls is approximately means adapted to direct a, flame into said com- 1 bustion chamber at one end and means adapted to cond'uctaway the productsof combustion from said chamber whereby the walls of said chamber are heated, a plane faced reflector co-extensive in length with said combustion chamber and spaced above the latter to reflect heat rays down wardly and outwardly which initially radiate upwardly toward said reflector, and a second reflector spaced below said combustion chamber having plane faces adapted to reflect heat rays from the combustion chamber and the upper reflector outwardly. '12. An overhead gas heater comprising the combination of: a horizontally elongated combustion chamber formed of plane walls having a cross sectionin the form of a quadrilateral of which two pairs of adjacent sides are equal, burner means adapted to direct a flame into said chamber for heating the same, a plane faced reflector cpl-extensive in length with the combustion chamber and spaced above thelatter to reflect heat rays which are initially projected 'from said combustion chamber at an angle substantially above horizontal, downwardly and outwardly, and a secondreflector spaced below' said combustion chamber; having plane faces adapted to'reflect heat rays 'fr omthe combustion cham: her and the upper reflector outwardly. a 1 WILLIAM G. CARTIER: R E EN S CIf b. I a The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date France Ma 19,1922 

